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Monday, September 28, 2009

Phone Phobia

I admit it. When my phone rings in Switzerland, I get scared. Do I say a friendly English "hello?" Do I bark my last name into the phone like I'm pissed? Do I brace for Swiss German and prepare to ask if the caller speaks High German? Will all this worry be pointless because the caller is actually my mom?

If you have ever lived in a country where phone etiquette--not to mention the local language--is just a little bit different, read on. Maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to relate to my column in October's Swiss News .

And if you have a humiliating phone story, please leave a comment. It just might make me feel better.

12 comments:

Great article. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with this phobia. Luckily no humiliating phone stories yet, but I think that's because I share your phone phobia and keep my number top secret and also try to only answer when I really have to!

Oh, mine's kind of embarrassing, but it happened right here at home. Caller ID showed husband's company name. I picked up and said a very enthusiastic, "Hi! What's up?" It wasn't husband. It was husband's coworker, who was a little shocked. She didn't recover well. I apologized and said, "You know, that caller ID thing is great, but only if you look at the number." We both snickered, though she was less than amused.

Good thing I didn't greet her the way I usually greet him "Hey there, hot stuff." :)

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About the Author

I’m an American writer who moved to Switzerland in 2006 and am now back in the US to determine if I can live anywhere else after being in a country filled with cheese, chocolate, and people who can pronounce my name. The author of Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I'd Known www.swisslifebook.com, and 99.9 Ways to Travel Switzerland Like a Local www.swisstravelbook.com, I have written about Switzerland for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN Travel, and many other publications.
Visit: www.chantalpanozzo.com